The Week in Charts

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

The Week in Charts

Welcome to The Week in Charts, where we break down Gallup's latest insights on our constantly evolving world. Here are the five insights you shouldn't miss this week:

1. Will You Mask Up on Your Next Flight?

Bar Chart: 60% of Americans say they would choose to wear a face mask if they were traveling by airplane in the next few days.

As the CDC ends its mask mandate for air travel, letting travelers choose for themselves, we find Americans split on the policy question. But personally speaking, six in 10 tell Gallup that if they were to hop on a flight in the coming days, they would choose to mask up. Democrats are the most likely to mask, while Republicans are the least likely. Women and people of color are also more likely than men and White adults to say they would opt for a mask on their next flight.
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2. Non-Degreed Americans See College as Out of Reach

Bar Chart: 9% of Americans without a college degree believe all Americans have access to quality, affordable higher education, while 35% believe that not too many do.

With graduation season upon us, only 9% of Americans without a college degree believe quality, affordable higher education is available to all Americans who want it, with another 21% saying it is available to most. At the same time, close to half of those without a college degree believe having one is more important to people's success than it was 20 years ago.
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3. Americans' Financial Worries Swell, Particularly Among Lower-Income Americans

Bar Chart: 32% of Americans were very or moderately worried about paying their monthly bills in 2021, compared to 40% in 2022.

With inflation getting worse by the month, Americans' worry about their finances is up significantly this year on five of eight different financial aspects. People's worry rose the most with regard to paying their bills and maintaining their standard of living. Yet, Americans' top worry was not having enough money for retirement, with six in 10 telling Gallup they are very or moderately worried about it. That rate jumps to 75% among those in households making less than $40,000 annually.
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4. Women's Rights in Afghanistan Cut Down

Line Chart: 67% of Afghans do not believe women in Afghanistan are treated with respect and dignity.

In the latest restriction of women's freedom in Afghanistan, the Taliban recently decreed all women must observe the kind of head-to-toe covering in public that predated the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban. Even before this, as the Taliban took control of Afghanistan last year, a record-low 31% of Afghans said women in their country were treated with respect and dignity.
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5. Trust in Information on Social Media Hard to Find

Bar Chart: When asked if they trust the information they see on social media, 41% of Americans strongly disagreed and 36% disagreed.

With Americans using social media applications more than any other type of website, a big majority of them (76%) don't trust the information they get on these platforms. Our latest research with Knight Foundation also highlights that consuming political discourse on these platforms often discourages many from participating in these debates online. One potential bright spot? Nearly half tell us seeing political debate on social media makes them more likely to vote.
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And that's The Week in Charts!

Mohamed Younis
Editor-in-Chief
Gallup

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